The ‘final few hours’ of the post-Brexit trade talks took place throughout December, until an agreement was struck, amid the crisis in Kent, amid COVID-19 restrictions, on Christmas Eve 2020.  A year set to change the course of history.

The conclusion of a free trade agreement on the 24^th of December was welcomed by the transport industry, including Peter Ward, CEO of the UK Warehousing Association and RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett.

But both warned that many details were yet to be finalised, and vast amounts of paperwork, processes and border checks were still ahead. Burnett was also pleased to report: “there will be no 10% tariff on new lorries…”

It’s a relief to know that taxes will not be added to goods, and that there won’t be a limit on the number of goods that can be traded between the UK and the EU moving forward.

Having this long-awaited deal in place, means (hopefully) that we’ve avoided goods becoming more expensive.

The BBC reported “Businesses will still need to prepare for new procedures at ports, and if new paperwork is incomplete, it could lead to disruption.”

The following key points from the British Industrial Freight Association offer further indication of what this means for the road transport profession.

• From the 1st January 2021 the UK will phase in customs entry requirements and SPS checks (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Controls) over a six month period up until 30th June 2021.
• The EU will implement full formalities with immediate effect from the 1st January 2021.
• The Agreement does not provide information regarding detailed frontier procedures including customs entries, transit licences and SPS checks.
• For border procedures when compared to “No deal”, the “Deal” changes very little in terms of border procedures. Whilst there may be tariff free and quota free access for goods moving between EU Member States and the United Kingdom all other border controls and customs procedures, as detailed in legislation and international convention (e.g. CITES and Transit), remain in place.
• The border in the Irish sea between NI and GB mainland became operational on the 1st January 2021.
• UK companies will no longer hold an EU licence or be able to perform transport services within the EU as part of the Single Market.
• The draft EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for quota-free point-to-point access for operators transporting goods by road between the EU and the UK. This means UK lorries would be able to reach the EU and return from the EU, including when not loaded. The same rights are conferred to EU hauliers travelling from any point in the EU to the UK, and back from the UK to anywhere in the EU. UK and EU trucks will also be able to perform up to two additional operations in the other party’s territory, once they have crossed the border. This will allow EU hauliers that carry a load to the UK to perform two cabotage operations in the UK (cabotage is the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory), thus limiting the risk of having to travel back to the EU without a load.
• For UK hauliers, these additional operations can be composed of two cross-trade operations or one cross-trade and one cabotage operation. Special provisions are made in the case of Ireland, as Northern Irish hauliers will be able to perform two cabotage operations in Ireland. The Agreement also provides for full transit rights across each other’s territories (to reach third countries or other parts of their own territory).

Of course, the agreement is only the first step. At Insite, we’ll be keeping an eye on Brexit developments to ensure our services match what’s required within the UK’s new system.

As transport professionals continue to be tested, Insite –  the UK’s leading provider of professional truck driver licence acquisition – is here to ensure the UK has the drivers to keep UK transport moving.

We’re excited to announce that Specialised Training, the UK’s leading provider of licence acquisition programmes, has today rebranded to become HGVC.

The rebrand follows a significant expansion of our network which cements us the largest provider of LGV and PCV training in the UK. New locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make it easier and faster for drivers to attend training, become qualified and start transporting goods.

By rebranding the business following the expansion of the Network, the addition of Online Risk Assessments to our services and the extension of our Driver CPC provision; we’re confident that HGVC will be known as the reliable partner for simple outsourced driver training.

2021 is set to be a year where people, businesses and infrastructure have to adjust to a new and different world. One that’s both Brexit and pandemic ready. We didn’t want to enter 2021 as the same business – with the same objectives – as 2020. If we did we would be instantly out of date. 

We recognise that the operators we work with are under enormous pressure to deliver and grow in a difficult climate. It’s our responsibility to ensure they have the drivers they need to be able to do this, without the burden of managing training in-house.

According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) the average age of a professional driver in the UK is 57. As workers reach retirement, and as some migrant drivers return to countries of origin due to Brexit, access to professional drivers remains a concern.

Licence acquisition is the fastest way for a business to build its next generation of drivers. Efficient professional driver training schedules are critical for ensuring operators have the skills they need for future fleets. 

Transport managers are busy and often unable to prioritise in-house training. The alternative is to work with experts to manage the entire training process. Our advice to operators is to stop thinking about training. Let a national training provider think about it on your behalf.

The introduction of Online Risk Assessments, the Network expansion, further Driver CPC provision and a new direction for the business – marked by the rebrand – is a strong start in 2021 for HGVC.

Under HGVC, partners benefit from our bespoke in-house LGV and PCV training programmes and from risk mitigation with Online Risk Assessments.

Online Risk Assessments identify high-risk drivers on the team. Interactive Refresher Training – which uses gamification techniques  – manages that risk by offering e-Learning modules which address individual driver needs.

Our company’s new online Driver CPC booking and training website – due to launch in 2021 – will enhance HGVC’s existing Driver CPC provision by making it easier for candidates to book courses.

Partners receive a dedicated SLA Account Manager responsible for successful delivery of the programme. 

All HGVC instructors are fully qualified, highly trained and engage in regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the company is an Jaupt Approved Training Centre.

As well as keeping Partners compliant, we deliver an exceptional candidate experience and guaranteed return on investment. Another benefit is that managers can instantly view progress reports on employee training to track what matters and make improvements where necessary.

We’re confident that 2021 will be a defining year for HGVC. One where we meet new partners and continue to expand our services to match their needs.